Between Scripts and Applications: Computational Media for the Frontier of Nanoscience

TY - GEN

T1 - Between Scripts and Applications

T2 - CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

AU - Nouwens, Midas

AU - Borowski, Marcel

AU - Fog, Bjarke Vognstrup

AU - Klokmose, Clemens Nylandsted

PY - 2020/4/21

Y1 - 2020/4/21

N2 - The popularity of computational notebooks heralds a return of software as computational media rather than turn-key applications. We believe this software model has potential beyond supporting just the computationally literate. We studied a biomolecular nano-design lab that works on a current frontier of science - RNA origami - whose researchers depend on computational tools to do their work, yet are not trained as programmers. Using a participatory design process, we developed a computational labbook to concretise what computational media could look like, using the principles of computability, malleability, shareability, and distributability suggested by previous work. We used this prototype to co-reflect with the nanoscientists about how it could transform their practice. We report on the computational culture specific to this research area; the scientists' struggles managing their computational environments; and their subsequent disempowerment yet dependence. Lastly, we discuss the generative potential and limitations of the four design principles for the future of computational media.

AB - The popularity of computational notebooks heralds a return of software as computational media rather than turn-key applications. We believe this software model has potential beyond supporting just the computationally literate. We studied a biomolecular nano-design lab that works on a current frontier of science - RNA origami - whose researchers depend on computational tools to do their work, yet are not trained as programmers. Using a participatory design process, we developed a computational labbook to concretise what computational media could look like, using the principles of computability, malleability, shareability, and distributability suggested by previous work. We used this prototype to co-reflect with the nanoscientists about how it could transform their practice. We report on the computational culture specific to this research area; the scientists' struggles managing their computational environments; and their subsequent disempowerment yet dependence. Lastly, we discuss the generative potential and limitations of the four design principles for the future of computational media.

KW - computational media

KW - computational notebook

KW - electronic laboratory notebook

KW - participatory design

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85091283742&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1145/3313831.3376287

DO - 10.1145/3313831.3376287

M3 - Article in proceedings

BT - CHI 2020 - Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

PB - Association for Computing Machinery

CY - New York

Y2 - 25 April 2020 through 30 April 2020

ER -